Regulating means for timepieces



July 27, 1937. w, KQHLHAGEN 2,088,421

REGULATING MEANS FOR TIMEPIECES Filed Oct. 5, 1936 nnuumnmwa WI liilmu mm By Ila/fer fo/llllayen WM r Patented July 27, 1937 Q NITED STATES OFFICE REGULATING MEANS FOR TIMEPIECES Application October 5, 1936, Serial No. 104,013

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in timepieces, and particularly to the means for regulating the same.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide superior means whereby a regulation of timepieces within predetermined. limits is facilitated.

Another object is to provide means whereby timepieces which are incapable of being regulated within predetermined limits are detected without undue delay.

A further object is to provide means whereby the accidental displacement of the regulator from a previously-adjusted position will be largely obviated during normal handling or a time movement, as, for instance, in installing such time movement in its case.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the regulator of a timepiece may be stopped at one or more positions intermediate its full scope or" movement and still permit such regulator to be moved when desired to any point within its full scope of movement.

With the above and other objects in View, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art and which are not claimed by me in a. separate application.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view in rear elevation of a watch movement embodying one form the present invention and showing the regulator in central position preparatory to a first-test run;

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a broken rear-elevation of the movement, showing the regulator set preparatory to a second-test run;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the regulator; and

Fig. 5 is a View in rear elevation of a timepiece illustrating another form which the present invention may assume.

The particular timepiece herein chosen for the illustration of the present invention in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is in the form of a watch movement having a rear movement-plate Hi which is formed in its edge with an arcuate-notch ii. Radially inward from the said notch H the movementplate it is formed with a crescent-shaped opening i2 resulting in the provision of an arcuatebridge or web i3 which is integral with the said movement-plate.

The bridge [3 mounts a bearing M constituting one of the two usual bearings for the staff of a balance-wheel I5 which is provided, in the usual manner of marine-type timepieces, with a hairspring Iii anchored at one end to a stud ll secured to the movement-plate i0.

Frictionally mounted upon the projecting forward end of the bearing M with freedom for turning movement thereon is a regulator generally designated by the numeral l8 and having an outwardly-and-rearwardly-extending arm l9 through which the outermost convolution of the hairspring it passes in a manner customary in timepiece structures. Directly opposite the arm It? the regulator I8 is formed with an inwardlyextending flexible arm 20 terminating in a forwardly-bent stopor detent-finger 2| which is adapted to engage with any one of three detentrecesses A, B, C.

The detent-recess A is located substantially midway between the S (slow) end of an arcuate series of graduations 22 imprinted upon the movement-plate l6 and the F (fast) end of said series of graduations. Thedetent-recess B is positioned intermediate the detent-recess A and the F end of the graduations 22. Similarly, the detent-recess C is located intermediate the detent-recess A and the S end of the graduations 22.

The resiliency of the arm 20 of the regulator l8 causes the detent-finger 2| thereof to releasably enter a given one of the detent-recesses A, B or C when the arm 20 of the regulator is swung into appropriate position.

For the purpose of a better understanding of the utility of the present invention, let it be presumed that the accuracy-tolerance permitted in timepieces to warrant their being shipped to users is plus or minus two minutes per day (departure from correct time). Under these conditions, the various detent-notches B and C will be spaced from each other a distance which experience has taught will normally provide an adjustment within the accuracy-range referred to.

To illustrate a preferred form of testing and adjusting to which the timepiece embodying the present invention may be subjected, the timepiece-adjuster will first move the regulator l8 so that its detent-finger 2| clicks into the de tent-recess A (Fig. 1), after which the timepiece will be given a trial run. If after this first trial run with the regulator in the position A, the timepiece should keep time within the range of plus or minus two minutes per day (which the majority will do), the timepiece may immediately be classed as suitable for shipment.

If, however, after the said first trial run, the timepiece should, for instance, be gaining time at the rate of three minutes per day, the adjustor will move the regulator 18 so that its detent-finger 2| snaps into the detent-recess C, and then subject the timepiece to a second trial run.

If after the second trial run just above referred to with the regulator in the position C, it is found that the timepiece departs no further from correct time than plus or minus two minutes per day (the arbitrarily-selected tolerance), the watch may be immediately classed as suitable for shipment. If, however, after the second trial run with the regulator in the position. 0, it should be found that the timepiece departs from true time to a greater degree than the prede termined tolerance of plus or minus two minutes per day, then the adjuster may immediately classify the particular timepiece as a reject.

On the other hand, if upon an initial trial run with the regulator in position A, the timepiece should run at the rate of more than two minutes slow per day, then the adjuster will swing the regulator into the position B and subject the timepiece to a second trial run. If after the second trial run with the regulator in position B, the timepiece should depart from correct time more than two minutes per day, it may be classed as a reject, otherwise it may be classed as satisfactory for shipment.

Instead of providing a regulator with a detentfinger 2|, as in the construction of Figs 1 to 4 inclusive, a regulator 23 such as is shown in 'Fig. 5 may be employed. This regulator is, like the regulator I8 before described, frictionally mounted upon the bearing I4 and is provided with an outwardly-and-rearwardly-extending arm 24 through which the hairspring [6 passes. The regulator 23 is also provided with an inwardly-extending arm 25 which is formed with an arcuate-terminal 26 having a series of grad uations imprinted upon its face and provided in its curved inner edge with a series of detentnotches or recesses 21, 28 and 29 respectively corresponding in function to the detent-recesses A, B and C of the structure of Figs 1 to 3 inclusive. Adapted to successively enter the notches 21, 28 and 29 just referred to is a detent-finger 30 bent from the free end of a detent-spring 3| which is provided with a base 32 in turn rigidly secured to the front movementplate It! by any suitable means such as rivets 33-33.

With reference to the structure of Fig. 5, it is sufficient to state that its use will be clear by reference to the foregoing description of the regulating procedure given in connection with the timepiece of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, bearing in mind in this connection that the detentnotches 21, 28 and 29 respectively determine the positions of the regulator 23 in the same manner as do the detent-recesses A, B and C before described.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a large number of timepieces may be passed for shipment with only one trial run after the regulator has been set to its central position A. Such timepieces as do not keep time within the predetermined limits after the first test run are subjected to a second test run with the regulator at either its position B or its position C (dependent upon whether the initial run has indicated that the timepiece is either slow or fast), and if this second test run does not indicate that the timepiece is keeping time within the permissible range of variation, the same may be immediately classed as a reject.

Thus, in the mass production of watches, particularly low-priced watches, such timepieces as should properly be rejected may be located rapidly and with relatively unskilled adjusters after requiring not more than two test runs, though it is to be appreciated that the great majority of the watches tested will prove satisfactory after the: first test run, and all but a very minor percentage of the remainder will be found satisfactory upon a second test run, but, nevertheless, the very small percentage of timepieces which should be rejected are readily detected and prevented from passing into the hands of users.

As before noted, a timepiece having a deviation of not more than plus or minus two minutes per day may be considered sufliciently accurate to warrant its being shipped from the factory with the expectation that the ultimate user will further refine the setting of the regulator to compensate for the particular conditions under which the timepiece may be used. The factors which affect the fine setting of the watch by a user are conditions of temperature, the length of intervals between winding, vibration, etc.

Owing to the fact that the stop-points B or 28 and C or 29 constitute the limits to which the regulator is set at the factory, the ultimate user has an adjustment-range left to him through which to move the regulator, which range not only includes the central range between the side stop-points B or 28 and C or 29 but also the range intermediate the extreme F position and the stop-points B or 28 and between the extreme S position and the stop-points C or 29.

In other Words, when the timepiece is passed as acceptable for shipment from the factory, the regulator is always in a position short of its extreme S or F positions.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of theinvention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In a timepiece, the combination with the balance-wheel and hail-spring thereof; of a regulator for varying the effective length of the said hairspring to thus vary the frequency of oscillation of the said balancewheel, the said regulator being movable between a predetermined extreme slow position and a predetermined extreme fast position; and releasable stop-means constructed and arranged to releasably stop the said regulator at a point intermediate its extreme slow position and its extreme fast position, the said stopmeans comprising a yielding detent and a detentrecess constructed and arranged to releasably receive the same, the said detent-recess being flanked on each of its respective opposite sides by an unrecessed area permitting the relativelyfree movement of the said regulator through a considerable range.

2. In a timepiece, the combination with the balance-wheel and hairspring thereof; of a regulator for varying the effective length of the said hairspring to thus vary the frequency of oscillation of the said balance-wheel, the said regulator being movable between a predetermined extreme slow position and a predetermined extreme fast position; and releasable stop-means constructed and arranged to releasably stop the said regulator at a point intermediate its extreme slow position and substantially the center of its total movement, and also at a point intermediate its extreme fast position and substantially the center of its total movement, the said stop-means comprising a yielding detent and a plurality of detent-recesses constructed and arranged to suecessively releasably receive the said yielding detent, the said detent-recess being spread apart to provide a space through which the said regulator is relatively free of restraint.

3. In a timepiece, the combination with the balance-wheel and hairspring thereof; of a regulator for varying the effective length of the said hairspring to thus vary the frequency of oscillation of the said balance-wheel, the said regulator being movable between a predetermined extreme slow position and a predetermined ex-- treme fast position, the said regulator being provided with a yielding detent-finger; and a detent-recess formed in a normally-stationary part of the timepiece and located in the path of movement of the detent-finger of the said regulator and at a point intermediate the two extreme positions thereof, the said detent-recess being flanked on each of its respective opposite sides by an unrecessed area permitting the relatively-free movement of the said regulator through a considerable range.

4. In a timepiece, the combination with the balance-Wheel and hairspring thereof; of a regulator for varying the effective length of the said hairspring to thus vary the frequency of oscillation of the said balance-Wheel, the said regulator being movable between a predetermined extreme slow position and a predeter mined extreme fast position, the said regulator being provided with a yielding detent-finger; and a plurality of detent-recesses formed in a normally-stationary part of the timepiece in position to successively receive the detent-finger of the said regulator, the said detent-recesses being spread apart to provide a space through which the said regulator is relatively free of restraint.

5. In a timepiece, the combination with the balance-wheel and hairspring thereof; of a regulator for varying the effective length of the said hairspring to thus vary the frequency of oscillation of the said balance-Wheel, the said regulator having a detent-recess and being movable between a predetermined extreme slow position and a predetermined extreme fast position; and releasable stop-means constructed and arranged to releasably stop the said regulator at a point intermediate its extreme slow position and its extreme fast position, the said stop-means including the detent-recess of the said regulator and a yielding detent-finger carried by a stationary part of the timepiece in position to enter the detent-recess in the said regulator, the said detent-recess being flanked on each of its respective opposite sides by an unrecessed area per mitting the relatively-free movement of the said regulator through a considerable range.

6. In a timepiece, the combination with the balance-Wheel and hairspring thereof; of a regulator for varying the efiective length of the said hairspring to thus vary the frequency of oscillation of the said balance-Wheel, the said regulator being movable between a predetermined extreme sloW position and a predetermined extreme fast position; and releasable stopmeans constructed and arranged to releasably stop the said regulator at a point intermediate its extreme slow position and substantially the center of its total movement, and also at a point intermediate its extreme fast position and substantially the center of its total movement, the said stop-means including a plurality of detentrecesses formed in the said regulator and a yielding detent-finger carried by the normally-stationary part of the timepiece and adapted to: successively engage with the detent-recesses of the said regulator, the said detent-recess being spread apart to provide a space through which the said regulator is relatively free of restraint.

WALTER KOHLHAGEN. 

